Bailing Out Benji

06/18/2026

We used to say these things too.

That is important to acknowledge before anything else. These phrases exist because people care deeply about dogs and wanted to communicate urgency as fast as possible. That impulse was right even when the language was not quite.

But the world we are advocating in has changed because the industry itself has changed- and when we repeat talking points that do not hold up under pressure, we hand those that disagree an easy way to dismiss everything else we say. So we updated our language because 'accurate' is more powerful than 'absolute', and the truth about this industry is serious enough that it does not need exaggeration to land.

Swipe through to see five things we have changed and why. If any of these surprise you, good! That means the conversation is moving :) And if you have been saying some of these yourself, welcome to the club. We were right there with you.

Don't forget that we welcome polite discourse on all of our posts and are happy to talk through the hard things with you!

🔗 Read our full messaging guide here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/rethinking-puppy-mill-messaging/

06/18/2026

Could there be a more relaxing way to start your day than by going to Reiman Gardens and having coffee with the butterflies?

Maybe? But our day started off pretty perfect!

Mindi and Kristen joined members of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance and had the opportunity to talk with local business owners about our mission and what we do to empower consumers who are looking to buy and research puppy mills so we can be an effective resource in shutting them down. We are so excited to be able to be in front of a new audience and share our work with influential people in our community! We loved chatting with Amy and Max from MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union and we are grateful that they thought to include us in the Alliance this year!

06/17/2026

🌿 One week until we Leaf No Dog Behind! 🌿

Do you know a little bit about everything? Or absolutely nothing but have a competitive spirit and a dream? Perfect!

Join us for a night of general trivia, plant-themed fun, and prizes that will make every plant lover green with envy!

Join us on June 24th at Alluvial Brewing from 7-9 and come with a team, bring a friend, or fly solo and make some new ones! Whether you are a trivia champion, a houseplant collector, or just looking for a fun night out, we've got a seat for you.

🪴 Plants, prizes, trivia, and good company included.

Get registered today:
https://secure.everyaction.com/9Ni_iozxUkGOeAszgBA4Iw2

06/16/2026

Last month we let you know that we have been doing this work for 15 years!! Now we are going to re-introduce ourselves and share with you the 'how' and the 'why' behind our work.

Welcome (again) to Bailing Out Benji! Pull up a chair, tag a friend, share on your page, and get ready to help us have an even bigger impact on the puppy mill industry than we ever thought possible!

06/15/2026

Boop!

This cute pup was one of the 435 dogs and cats that received free pet food from our monthly dispersal events yesterday! These events give us the opportunity to get to know our community and what need they have in order to keep their pets in their homes where they belong! Our team was a little smaller yesterday, but we had a great time running back and forth to all of the cars and seeing whichever pets made the trip in to greet us.

We have really been struggling to keep cat items on hand!
Wet food and kitty litter are two things that have been really hard for us to buy or get donated. If you are able to help the kitties, please consider sending one of the items off of our wishlist for our community pets:
https://www.chewy.com/g/bailing-out-benji_b92375826 -list&wishlistsortby=DEFAULT

THANK YOU for helping us better serve our community 💙

06/12/2026

JAMES!!

What can we say.
If you have been to any of our Bark After Dark Galas in the past then you know James Jacobson (big smile, standing in the middle). James is one of our most consistent supporters and he sponsors our big night every. single. year.

Correction: Not only does he sponsor, he makes sure he is the FIRST to sign up every year.

James also brings a table full of friends and makes sure that everyone is laughing and having a great time, while supporting our important work. Did we mention that he spends his free time walking dogs for his local shelter and he brings them home for weekend visits?! What a guy!

We love James and aren't looking to replace him... But we would love to see your family, business, or organization sign up to be a sponsor as well! Get involved early and help us make our 2026 Bark After Dark Gala the best it can be!

Be like James and become a sponsor today: https://secure.everyaction.com/do2sZtCutUe4ZY898EgRhQ2

Want to meet James (and the rest of our team) in person? Click here to secure your tickets: https://secure.everyaction.com/7-lBKZBK6kizrMDU1cHpBg2

Don't forget to join us in sending a BIG THANK YOU TO James for sponsoring our 2026 gala 💙

06/10/2026

We really appreciate the work SPARC does to expand the way we think about and talk to people who interact with animals. We love seeing more groups abandon the 'hero' vs 'villain' storyline and instead focus on changing the systems that allow cruelty to exist!

We invite you to follow their organization and get to know the work they are doing!

Yes, there are some bad actors in this world, but too often, we end up blaming and shaming individuals who are not villains at all. Pet guardians are often navigating unfair systems. Most people are simply humans living their lives and doing their best with what they have, know, and are given access to. We end up with a lot of messy, imperfect, sometimes heartbreaking situations - not villains.

06/10/2026

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", Kristen and Mindi sit down to chat about our experience at the recent 'Canine Welfare Science Conference' in Indiana! Behaviorists like Clive Wynne presented, and the Deputy Administrator for the USDA APHIS program even sat down and took questions from the audience about the work that they are doing to end the most inhumane practices that we see inside of licensed breeding operations. Really important conversations happen in rooms that include both 'sides' of the animal welfare industry, and we are really excited to have a seat at the table.

You can listen to our latest episode on your preferred podcast app or watch us on Youtube!

06/09/2026

Our Leaf No Dog Behind Trivia Night! in Ames, Iowa is TWO WEEKS AWAY! Mindi and Kristen spent this (very hot) morning hanging up flyers all over town to promote this fun event!

This general trivia night is hosted by Back Alley House Plants at Alluvial Brewing Company on June 24th and all of the prizes are PLANTS! You also get a free plant for each person on your team just for registering!

Don't wait to get your team signed up in advance: https://secure.everyaction.com/9Ni_iozxUkGOeAszgBA4Iw2

06/08/2026

The research shows that more people buy puppies each year than choose adoption- which is why it is crucial that we educate consumers before they exchange any money! We can put an end to puppy mill operations by diverting their sales through education and advocacy.

You can help us created an informed puppy-buying public by sharing our research with anyone you know that is in the market to buy! We need families to pause their purchase, research their breed, and, most importantly, research their breeder to make sure they aren't giving their money to an inhumane operation.

Share our resources on what to ask a breeder here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/finding-a-reputable-breeder/

And don't forget to look them up in our directory to see if they have a history of issues: https://directory.bailingoutbenji.com

This post is *perfect* to share in your local community groups or buy/sale pages!